Dual agency and ‘double-dipping’ still risky business

Editor's note: This article is part of a series, "Beyond Dual Agency: Many forms of real estate double-dipping," highlighting the history, regulations, and debate over dual agency and other real estate practices in which the same real estate professional, or professionals from the same office, work with both the buyer and seller in the same real estate transaction. Read a related article in the series: "Real estate brokers can double-end deals in any state."
Despite more than two decades of tinkering with the laws, regulations, customs and practices governing Realtor-client relationships, real estate brokers still view agency issues as their single greatest potential legal liability.
Realtor associations have lobbied for and won numerous changes to state laws and regulations, largely...